Plot: When Kaisei's mother dies of illness, his father struggles to continue his normal life. Kaisei is left to fend for himself and turns away from his friends and classmates. The only one who seems to understand him is Yui, a classmate who lost her mother too. But Kaisei's actions may have gotten her into trouble.
Watches
August 17, 2024
A pleasant island drama that makes good use of Gunkenjima, a by-now popular tourist spot on the coast of Japan. The abandoned island provides a nice backdrop to a coming-of-age drama that mixes in mild brawler elements. This gives the film a bit of an edge, though it's not as nihilistic as some other of its notable predecessors.
The performances are strong, Saito makes excellent use of the setting and the cinematography is on point (giving off that summery island vibe). The drama is good too, though things become a bit melodramatic at the end. A slightly more subdued take would've been better, but there's lots to enjoy here.